Free Alanna: The First Adventure by Tamora Pierce Page B

so?”
    â€œI’m sure of it.” Myles nodded. “Alan, there will come a time when you, a knight, will have to fightsomeone less well trained than you. It can’t be helped, and it doesn’t make you a bully. It just means you learn to use your skills wisely.”
    Alanna thought about this. At last she sighed and shook her head. It was too much just then.
    Myles ruffled her hair. “So now you’ve proved you’re a warrior to the whole palace. Surely you want to celebrate.”
    Alanna made a face. No matter what Myles said, she had used fancy tricks to beat Ralon, that was all. She was still a girl masquerading as a boy, and sometimes she doubted that she would ever believe herself to be as good as the stupidest, clumsiest male.
    The door opened. “Sir Myles. You beat me here.” It was Prince Jonathan. “How’s Alan?”
    Myles stood. “I think he’s tired. Alan, I’m going, but I wish you’d think about what I said.”
    â€œI always think about the things you tell me,” she admitted. She gave him her hand. “Thanks, Sir Myles.”
    The knight bowed to Jonathan and left. The Prince looked at Alanna. “What was that about?”
    Alanna shrugged. “I think we were talking about what makes a bully.”
    â€œA bully fights people littler and weaker than he isbecause he thinks it’s fun,” Jonathan said flatly. “Did you enjoy fighting Ralon? We’ll forget for now that he’s older than you and a squire.”
    â€œWhen we were actually fighting —maybe,” she replied slowly. “After—no.”
    â€œYou won’t find anyone smaller than you are, so you can’t beat on them,” the older boy said practically. “And after today we’re all going to think twice about whether you’re the weakest. Look, young Trebond—what did you think studying to be a knight was about?”
    Suddenly Alanna felt much better. “Thanks, Highness.” She grinned. “Thanks a lot.”
    He put a hand on her shoulder. “You may have noticed my friends call me Jonathan, or Jon.”
    Alanna looked up at him, not sure what was going on. “And am I your friend, Highness?”
    â€œI do believe you are,” he told her quietly. “I’d like you to be.” He offered her his hand.
    She took it. “Then I am—Jonathan.”

4
DEATH IN THE PALACE
    D UKE G ARETH’S LECTURE THE DAY AFTER A LANNA fought Ralon was long and impressive. He spoke to her about the duty one noble owes another noble, about keeping the peace on the palace grounds and about people who became bullies. He informed her that fighting with the hands was an undignified pastime taken up by commoners, or an art practiced by Shang warriors—and that she was neither a commoner nor a Shang warrior. She had to make a formal, written apology to Ralon’s father, and she was restricted to the palace for two months.
    Alanna stood at attention, listening. She loved the way the Duke talked. She knew he was pleased that she had beaten Ralon, not angry. She also knew he could never tell her so, because she had broken the rules, and that she had to take her punishment without complaint, because she had known the rules when she broke them. Alanna’s world was governed by rules, with a rule to cover every situation. Fighting a fellow noble in the palace was breaking the rules, and Gareth had to teach her that. Yet the rules governing what a noble could take in the way of insults said that Alanna had to fight Ralon, and Duke Gareth was proud of her because she had protected her honor as a noble.
    Once you know the rules, she thought as she listened to the Duke with one ear, life is pretty simple. I don’t get mad at Duke Gareth because I know he has to obey the rules just as I do, and I know he isn’t truly angry with me anyway. Maybe our Code of Chivalry isn’t such a bad thing.
    On the